A controversial fight between a man and a women was never actually
expected to happen, according to Shooto Brazil.

The promotion Friday announced that Emerson
Falcao’s announced bantamweight meeting with Juliana
Velasquez will not take place tonight at Shooto
Brazil 45. The fight announcement was only a stunt intended to
bring attention to domestic violence in Brazil.

“The fight that caused controversy in the world served to draw
attention to a very important topic: domestic violence. Do your
part and report,” a statement on the Shooto Brazil Facebook page
read. “This fight will not happen in the ring, but outside it,
[domestic violence] is happening in thousands of homes.”

Shooto Brazil on Tuesday announced what first appeared to be a
legitimate booking between Nova Uniao’s Falcao and Team Nogueira’s
Velasquez, despite Falcao announcing on Facebook that an injury
would prevent him from competing until next year.